The abuse of power or bullying in the world is one of the great obstacles to justice, equality and peace. The abuse of power by politicians or religious leaders always leads to great suffering for the poor and those on the margins of society. It seems to have always been this way. That is why the Prophets like Amos of the Old Bible spoke out and why new religions were founded –to protect human dignity against those who would try to take it away by using physical force and starvation.
It has been mostly men who have abused the power they had been given or that they took and held by force of arms. We see the abuse of power today in many countries throughout the world.
We see it in the way the Israeli government is treating the Palestinian people in Gaza. We see it in Russia, in Turkey, in the USA, in China and in so many other places. We have seen the abuse of power in our own country –those of us who grew up here in the north-east under the Stormont regime in the 1950s and 1960s.
The men in power think they can do what they like. They think they are in control of peoples’ lives and that human lives are expendable –especially the lives of the poor and working class. Those who promote armies and arms sales are guilty of abusing power.
Some think they can do what they like to the Environment and pollute the rivers and lakes.
All good religion is opposed to the abuse of power and all forms of bullying in the churches or in the state. Many brave people of all religions have stood up and opposed those who abuse power. All corrupt religions and religious leaders support the abusers of power and are complicit in the abuse of power because they think they will benefit from being on the side of the powerful and the wealthy.
The prophets opposed the abuse of power—and they suffered. Jesus of Nazareth was born into that prophetic tradition and he too saw that the abuse of power was destroying the lives of the poor and those living on the margins. He vehemently opposed those who abused their power especially the ruling class in Jerusalem.
Many great prophets since Jesus and inspired by his life and teaching have stood up to the abuse of power.
We who follow the Christian way are always being challenged to oppose the abuse of power everywhere that it raises its ugly head-in families, institutions, church communities, business and politics. We are called to speak out for human dignity and justice. We are called to show reverence for the Earth and all creatures. We are all inter-dependent and connected.
One of the obstacles to taking on those who abuse power is fear. We must learn to practice courage. We are called to overcome our fear of those in power by working to protect and preserve Human Dignity at all costs. We are called to do this for ourselves and for future generations.
It is a deeply spiritual desire to want to protect Human dignity at all costs. I answered the call to become a Catholic priest in order to stand up for human dignity in a world that does not yet have much respect or reverence for human dignity and the sacredness of all of God’s creation.
None of us is perfect. We are all inclined to abuse power in different ways so we must always be on our guard.
We are called at this time, a very dangerous time in our world, to be examples of gentleness, kindness and compassion in our communities. We are called to highlight the abuse of power whenever and wherever it is taking place. I believe that when enough people do that, we shall overcome some Day.
Fantastic piece Father I couldn’t agree more. Sadly, we now have a world in which people who profess Christianity are slavishly following the dictates of a completely non believing dictator, who bullies and threatens the poor and downtrodden. The Israeli PM treats the people of Gaza as subhuman. Russia’s nominally Christian President routinely lobs bombs into a neighbouring country.
Another apologist for Hamas. You do know that this death cult that was voted in by the Palestinian people don’t forget. Murdered, raped and kidnapped thousands of innocent Jews, don’t you?
I have always supported Israel’s right to exist. Someone (I am afraid I can’t remember who) compared the way Israel, a majority Jewish nation, was maligned by people who would never criticise Pakistan, a majority Muslim country and that is true. October 7th was a disgusting act of cruelty and wanton slaughter. The problem now however is Netanyahu. His obscene bombing of Gaza has removed a lot of the initial sympathy felt for Israel, much like George W. Bush destroyed people’s solidarity after 911 when he and Blair went to war in Iraq. Overkill.